Well, maybe not the absolute worst, but a catalogue of experiences around the world which explain why a taxi is always my last resort for getting from A to B, and why I’d rather walk, take public transport or a bike just about anywhere.
Disclaimer: Many taxi drivers are polite, courteous, professional and very honest. It’s the others that give you a bad rap, which are the ones I am complaining about..
Bangkok
Don’t expect taxi drivers to know the way – particularly if there has been a bad crop recently in the countryside, since in these times your taxi driver is likely to be an out of work farmer who is unlikely to find his way home, let alone that restaurant you just asked for. In fact, it may take 2 or 3 different attempts before you find a taxi driver that knows where your destination is, let alone how to get there.
If you are lucky the driver will tell you that he has no idea where the destination is in advance, otherwise he’ll just drive you around for a little while.
Having somebody write the destination down for you (or learning how to pronounce words in Thai) can help, but not always, as can calling the place where you are staying and asking them to talk the taxi home for you.
New York
Not that bad actually. Relatively inexpensive and efficient, but smells horrible and don’t expect much in the way of courtesy – either from the driver or other passengers competing for the same cab.
New York cabs win a prize for being the largest vehicles with the smallest passenger space, but definitely count as one of the world’s better taxi experiences.
London
Encyclopaedic knowledge of London’s streets, spacious cabs, polite drivers (to passengers at least - comments made to ther road users are part of the entertainment) and cheap fares. London is Taxi heaven.
Until midnight that is, when the black cabs go home and unlicensed mini-cabs take over to fill the demand. Beware of these guys: people tell of drivers rolling joints whilst driving with their knees, whilst others talk of drivers who’ve obviously had several already. A phone call followed by a quick detour to help a friend of the driver escape from a crime scene is also not unheard of. Police reports describe far more sinister doings, particularly concerning women travellers.
Zürich
If your hotel isn’t one of the five biggest in Zürich then bring your own map, or chose a driver with a GPS. English is rarely spoken, and German or other Swiss languages are not guaranteed. And bring plenty of cash – that number on the meter really is the cost.
Definitely the most expensive and most often lost taxi drivers in the world. On one occasion I spent 30 minutes while a taxi tried to find my (rather large) hotel, asking for directions from several pedestrians on the way. We eventually found it, and a long argument ensued over the expectation that I pay the meter fare for the whole duration. Which I won only narrowly.
Rome
If you manage to actually find a cab in Rome then please comment. I’ve given up each time as taxis are scarce in Rome, and drivers tend to strike (whilst blocking traffic in the city) every time the city tries to increase the number of taxi licences.
In a blog post, Pauline relates to an experience where a driver busy taking a phone call made them wait outside before allowing them in, in the rain, with the meter running (including the approach fare), for 10 minutes. That’s service.
Paris
Generally professional, but basically rude. Can make a bit of a fuss when asked to take you somewhere that’s not totally convenient for them – consider this when choosing destinations such as out of the way places where they won’t pick up a huge fare right after.
I once spent 15 minutes in a taxi being complained at by the driver because he ‘claimed’ he would lose money driving to my destination (near the airport). I paid him 1/3rd more than the fare as a good-will token, but it didn’t make him happy and he drove off refusing to give a receipt.
India
Finding a taxi or auto rickshaw is easy. Just wait by the road and they’ll soon be fighting over you. The family member’s shop or restaurant that they recommend is never as good as the place you originally wanted to go to, so be persistent and insist that you want to go to your original destination. Like many attempted transactions in India it comes down to a war of attrition.
Taxis are cheap enough to rent for the day in some cases, so make sure you enjoy the unique spectacle of road transport in India, complete with sleeping cows in the middle of the carriage way, oncoming trucks in the wrong lane, constant use of the horn, etc.
Cairo
Similar to India, except they continue to fight over you after you’ve arrived. In fact, Taxi drivers will follow you around all day, stalking you. The family member’s shop or restaurant is also never as good as the place you actually wanted, but in many cases they will take you there anyway and just pretend that’s what you asked for.
Don’t be alarmed by the fact that obeying traffic signals are optional in Cairo, meaning that they are always ignored, and on a three lane carriageway there will be at least four cars abreast.
However, if you can find an honest one (and don’t rely on a hotel concierge for this) then they can make excellent tour guides.
China
Don’t lose the piece of paper with your destination written in Chinese, unless you are good at charades, as you shouldn’t count on being able to pronounce your destination no matter how much you practice. Otherwise Chinese taxis are honest, professional and courteous, if a little erratic in their driving style.
Warsaw
Very keen to get going to the extent that over eager drivers can slam doors shut before all appendages are inside the taxi. It can really hurt.
Speeds on wet roads defy the laws of physics (or at least common sense).
Generally, taxis in Warsaw are very reasonable and honest providing you take a licensed taxi, not one of the private taxis that lurk around airport arrivals and on popular streets.
Moscow
Blindingly fast like Warsaw, with the added fun of driving on ice and snow during Winter. Moscow taxi drivers sometimes take a little convincing to let you get in since passengers tend to be inconvenient. Seemlingly honest and inexpensive though.
Had a better, worse or different experience? Help us update future editions of this post and tell us of your taxi adventures.
Image Credits: ixtlan, Foraggio Fotographic, WordRidden, LostInInaka via Flickr under a Creative Commons licence
9 Comments
Try Kaunas, Lithuania. On warm days, driver B.O. can force you out the window… One driver (who had to be over eighty) had Parkinsons and every time his hands left the steering wheel, the taxi drifted awkwardly to the right. When he started driving up the wrong way up the motorway off ramp, we wondered if Parkinson’s was his only disability, however, he managed (somehow) to veer back over, onto the on ramp. Being grateful that he got us to the airport, was an understatement but the urge to crawl out of the cab and kiss the ground was overwhelming. We even found ourselves giving him a tip.
Los Angeles is a tough spot to grab a cab, as well. Seoul, on the other hand, has a magnificent taxi system in place. Inexpensive and plentiful. Thanks for the post!
Cairo taxi drivers may actually be worse than you think. I had a bit of a nightmare expierience with one on them on our way to the airport. We knew the area and got into a bit of an argument over his directions and them to top it all he enhanced his fare a bit.
This and the camel ride were the the two worst items on an otherwise fantastic trip. I spent two weeks in Hurghada on the Red Sea. Must be up there as one of my favourites.
I will have to bookmark this post. I have been around but I am happy to share that my taxi experiences in the different places I have been to have been nothing but pleasant.
Thanks for the comment on London taxi drivers, not true we all go home at midnight just a busy time especially at the weekend!! Always take care if you want to risk a minicab why not pre book a licensed London Taxi for your ride home that will save all the bother!!
Good post about the taxi.
Actually I would add Johannesburg to this list.If you are using a regular cab make sure to check that the driver is licenced.If using the regular minibusses well the less said about them the better.There have been cases as bad as the drivers using home made steering wheels.Still South Africa is a great place to visit.
I think China Taxi service is one of the worst. Aside from the fact that taxi drivers don’t speak the English medium, they are also one of the most rude from what I have experienced.
NY Service
Thanks for the nice comments about London Taxi drivers. As a London Taxi driver myself though I can tell you we dont all go hope at midnight! but to be fair I agree demand can be grater than supply sometimes! Its defiantly not worth the risk using unlicensed minicabs. I would suggest where possible you pre book your return in advance. Either with the driver who brought you in to town or via a Taxi Directory, its better to be safe than sorry!